Ishik Kul, Kyrgyzstan (AP) – Meet on Saturday on the south shore of Kyrgyzstan’s lake Ishik Kul for the annual Salvuulun Festival. The festival, held in the village of Bokombaevo, featured nomadic traditions such as archery, horse acrobatics and traditional wrestling.
As well as pursuing more movement, visitors saw performances of throat songs, epic poetry and lute music. The festival takes its name from traditional types of hunting, including Eagles, archery and tygun dogs.
This is a photo gallery curated by the AP Photo Editor.
On Saturday, August 2, 2025, the Golden Eagles and Kyrgyz hunters will compete at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan hunters are preparing their Golden Eagle to participate in a competition at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salvuurn Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, on the south shore of Lake Isykkul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz rider demonstrates his skills at the traditional eagle hunting Salbouran Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
Kyrgyz hunters will blow the corners open the traditional Eagle Hunting Salbouran Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, on the south shore of Lake Isykkul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Golden Eagles carry stuffing on Saturday, August 2, 2025 during the Kyrgyzstan’s traditional Eagle Hunting Salvuurn Festival, located on the south shore of Lake Isykkul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
A Kyrgyz female archer rides horses before the competition on Saturday, August 2, 2025 during the Salbouran Festival, a traditional eagle hunting on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz musicians will launch the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz hunters with Golden Eagles are preparing to compete on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on the south shore of Lake Isykkul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz riders will take part in the game “Catch the Girl” on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salbouran Festival on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
Kyrgyz Hunters will compete in archery at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salvuurn Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, on the south shore of Lake Ishikkul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (AP Photo/Vladimir Boronin)
Kyrgyz hunters in historic military uniform will perform on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The Kyrgyz boy will compete in archery on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on the south shore of Lake Ishik Kul, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Golden Eagle and hunting dog Kyrgyzstan hunter are also known as Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan, on Saturday, August 2nd, at the traditional Eagle Hunting Salburun Festival on the south shore, 213 km (132 miles) southeast of Bishkek.
